Leaf Dragon
by Beth Cato
the dragon pretends
she's a blood-red maple leaf
points extended as she drifts
so large now, she could crush a tree
beneath her might but she remembers
how as a hatchling she spent endless hours
studying the lazy spiral of leaves
that on windless days took so long
to spin down, down, down
she flares out her wings
jaw agape to drink from clouds
amber eyes to slits
she floats
down, down, down